US20100123976A1 - Arm mounted shock sensor and flexible circuit routing - Google Patents
Arm mounted shock sensor and flexible circuit routing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100123976A1 US20100123976A1 US12/273,838 US27383808A US2010123976A1 US 20100123976 A1 US20100123976 A1 US 20100123976A1 US 27383808 A US27383808 A US 27383808A US 2010123976 A1 US2010123976 A1 US 2010123976A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- flexible cable
- sensor
- arm
- turnaround
- stiffener
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 title claims description 7
- 239000003351 stiffener Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 61
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 description 20
- 230000002463 transducing effect Effects 0.000 description 11
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229910000679 solder Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012876 carrier material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012092 media component Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/48—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed
- G11B5/4806—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed specially adapted for disk drive assemblies, e.g. assembly prior to operation, hard or flexible disk drives
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/48—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed
- G11B5/54—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks
- G11B5/55—Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head
- G11B5/5521—Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head across disk tracks
- G11B5/5582—Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head across disk tracks system adaptation for working during or after external perturbation, e.g. in the presence of a mechanical oscillation caused by a shock
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/48—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed
- G11B5/58—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed with provision for moving the head for the purpose of maintaining alignment of the head relative to the record carrier during transducing operation, e.g. to compensate for surface irregularities of the latter or for track following
- G11B5/60—Fluid-dynamic spacing of heads from record-carriers
- G11B5/6005—Specially adapted for spacing from a rotating disc using a fluid cushion
- G11B5/6011—Control of flying height
- G11B5/6076—Detecting head-disk contact
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/48—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed
- G11B5/4806—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed specially adapted for disk drive assemblies, e.g. assembly prior to operation, hard or flexible disk drives
- G11B5/4846—Constructional details of the electrical connection between arm and support
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K1/00—Printed circuits
- H05K1/18—Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components
- H05K1/189—Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit
Definitions
- a typical data electronics enclosure includes a rigid housing that encloses a variety of components.
- a data storage system is one type of electronics enclosure.
- Components in a data storage system include one or more storage media.
- the storage media can be mounted on a spindle motor that causes the media to spin and the data surfaces of the discs to pass under aerodynamic bearing head sliders.
- the head sliders are supported on an actuator having at least one arm and at least one corresponding suspension that moves across the media using mechanical energy derived from a voice coil motor.
- the sliders carry transducers, which write information to and read information from the data surfaces of the media.
- a flexible circuit assembly electrically connects the read/write elements on the head slider and the electronics on the actuator to a printed circuit board (PCB) that interfaces with a host computer.
- the flexible circuit assembly includes a flexible cable that allows pivotal movement of the actuator during operation.
- the flexible cable includes electrical traces supported by a polymeric carrier material.
- the fly height of the head above the media decreases. It is desirable to measure the zero fly height point for each head and associated media combination to optimize head fly height.
- An actuator for supporting data transfer elements includes an arm, a sensor in contact with a surface of the arm and a flexible circuit assembly.
- the flexible circuit assembly includes a stiffener having a mount feature for mounting to the arm and a turnaround feature coupled to the mount feature.
- the flexible circuit assembly also includes a flexible cable having a plurality of conductive traces for electrically connecting the data transfer elements to circuitry.
- the flexible cable includes a service loop portion, a mounting portion for mounting to the mount feature of the stiffener and a turnaround portion for mounting to the turnaround feature of the stiffener.
- the mounting portion of the flexible cable includes a sensor receiving portion for electrically coupling to the sensor while the sensor is in contact with the surface of the arm.
- Mounted to the mounting portion of the flexible cable includes a signal processing component for amplifying a signal from the data transfer elements. Besides amplifying a signal from the data transfer elements, the signal processing component also processes a sensed signal from the sensor.
- the flexible cable electrically couples the sensor to the signal processing component, while the sensor is in contact with the surface of the arm
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a related art flexible cable.
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of another related art flexible cable.
- FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flexible cable of a flexible circuit assembly under one embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of an arm and a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an arm and flexible circuit assembly under another embodiment.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of an arm and flexible circuit assembly under yet another embodiment.
- FIG. 7 is top plan view of a portion of the arm and the flexible circuit assembly in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 is a plan view of a flexible cable of a flexible circuit assembly under yet another embodiment.
- FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an arm configured to receive the flexible cable illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 10 is a first perspective view of a portion of the arm illustrated in FIG. 9 and a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of a portion of the arm illustrated in FIG. 9 and a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the arm illustrated in FIG. 9 including a portion of the flexible circuit assembly.
- FIG. 13 is a plan view of a flexible cable of a flexible circuit assembly under yet another embodiment.
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an arm configured to receive the flexible cable illustrated in FIG. 13 .
- FIG. 15 is a plan view of a portion of the arm illustrated in FIG. 14 .
- FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the arm illustrated in FIG. 14 and a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 .
- FIG. 17 is a plan view of a portion of the arm illustrated in FIG. 14 and the flexible circuit assembly illustrated in FIG. 16 .
- Embodiments pertain to flexible circuit assemblies coupled to actuators in electronic devices, such as data storage systems, and the routing of flexible cable of the flexible circuit assemblies to accommodate a sensor coupled to an arm of the actuator.
- An actuator is configured to support data transfer elements including transducers.
- the sensor is configured to measure a zero fly height point for a slider that includes transducers for reading and writing information to a data storage medium.
- the sensor is mounted to an e-block of an actuator assembly of the electronic device and is located as close as possible to the signal processing component of which can process the resultant signals.
- Embodiments of the flexible circuit assemblies take into consideration the signal processing component is already coupled to a flexible cable for use in other applications.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a related art flexible cable 100 .
- Flexible cable 100 allows pivotal movement of an actuator during operation of an electronic device while electrically connecting elements connected to the actuator to a printed circuit board (PCB) that interfaces with a host or host computer.
- PCB printed circuit board
- the actuator accesses locations on a storage medium with transducing elements located on slider(s) to read and write information.
- Flexible cable 100 includes electrical traces 102 supported by a polymeric carrier material 104 . The electrical traces are coupled to the read/write transducing elements on the slider through electronics on the actuator assembly to connect with the PCB that interfaces with the host.
- Flexible cable 100 includes a service loop portion 106 .
- Service loop portion is the portion of flexible cable 100 that moves with the actuator and makes the connection between the actuator and the PCB.
- Flexible cable 100 includes a turnaround portion 108 .
- Turnaround portion 108 orients the position of flexible cable 100 .
- Flexible cable 100 also includes a mounting portion 110 for mounting to an arm of an actuator.
- Mounted to mounting portion 110 is a signal processing component 112 .
- signal processing component 112 can be a preamplifier.
- the preamplifier 112 includes amplification and filtering circuits. More specifically, preamplifier 112 amplifies the signal from the transducing elements that are accessing read/write information on storage media.
- Flexible cable 100 also includes a coil tail 114 that separately extends from turnaround portion 108 and includes electrical traces.
- coil tail 114 electrically couples to a voice coil motor.
- the voice coil motor uses electrical energy to produce the mechanical energy needed to actuate arms on an actuator to access locations on the storage media.
- the polymeric carrier 104 that encompasses coil tail 114 is coupled to the polymeric carrier 104 of the turnaround portion 108 in proximity to where turnaround portion 108 couples to mounting portion 110 .
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of a related art flexible cable 200 .
- flexible cable 200 includes a service loop portion 206 , a turnaround portion 208 , a mounting portion 210 , signal processing component 212 and coil tail 214 .
- the polymeric carrier 204 that encompasses coil tail 214 separately extends from turnaround portion 208 in proximity to where turnaround portion 208 couples to mounting portion 210 .
- FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flexible cable 300 of a flexible circuit assembly under one embodiment.
- Flexible cable 300 includes a service loop portion 306 , a turnaround portion 308 , a mounting portion 310 , signal processing component 312 coupled to mounting portion 310 and coil tail 314 .
- the polymeric carrier 304 of mounting portion 310 includes a sensor receiving portion 316 for accommodating a sensor that is to be mounted to an arm of an actuator for measuring a zero fly height point of transducing elements on a slider.
- sensor receiving portion 316 is a slot. Slot 316 includes three side edges of the polymeric carrier 304 of mounting portion 310 . At least two of the three side edges of polymeric carrier 304 have traces that are configured for electrical connection with the sensor.
- the polymeric carrier 304 that encompasses coil tail 314 separately extends from turnaround portion 308 in proximity to where turnaround portion 308 couples to service loop portion 306 .
- FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of an arm 320 , a flexible circuit assembly 322 including flexible cable 300 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 and a portion of a voice coil motor 321 .
- flexible circuit assembly 322 includes a stiffener 324 and flexible cable 300 .
- Stiffener 324 includes a mount feature 325 for mounting to arm 320 and a turnaround feature 326 coupled to mount feature 325 .
- Mounting portion 310 of flexible cable 300 is mounted to mount feature 325 of stiffener 324 and turnaround portion 308 of flexible cable 300 is mounted to turnaround feature 326 of stiffener 324 . Therefore, mount feature 325 of stiffener 324 also includes a slot 329 that matches and is aligned with slot 316 in flexible cable 300 . Together slot 329 in stiffener 324 and slot 316 in flexible cable 300 receivingly engage a sensor.
- Arm 320 is part of an actuator.
- a mount surface 327 of arm 320 that receives stiffener 324 includes at least one recess 328 .
- Recess 328 is configured to receive a sensor 330 .
- sensor 330 can be mounted to recess 328 of arm 320 with an adhesive.
- sensor 330 is configured to sense a zero fly height point for transducing elements on a slider that reads and writes information to a data storage medium.
- Sensor 330 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type transducer.
- Sensor 330 is simultaneously in physical contact with arm 320 and in electrical connection with traces in flexible cable 300 that is supported by stiffener 324 .
- sensor 330 can be soldered to traces in flexible cable 300 .
- sensor 330 is positioned in electrical connection with flexible cable 300 in a position very close to signal processing component 312 , which is configured to process the resulting sensed signal.
- signal processing component 312 which is configured to process the resulting sensed signal.
- traces in flexible cable 300 are relatively short between sensor 330 and signal processing component 312 because the components are situated close together. The short distance of traces between sensor 330 and signal processing component 312 provides a suitable signal-to-noise ratio for signal processing.
- coil tail 314 With coil tail 314 being coupled to turnaround portion 308 in proximity to service loop portion 306 , coil tail 314 , in one embodiment, can wrap around the exterior of turnaround feature 326 to connect to voice coil motor 321 as is illustrated in FIG. 4 . In a different embodiment, coil tail 314 can wrap within an interior of turnaround feature 326 to connect to voice coil motor 321 as is illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an arm 420 and flexible circuit assembly 422 under another embodiment.
- flexible circuit assembly 422 includes a stiffener 424 and flexible cable 400 .
- Stiffener 424 includes a mount feature 425 for mounting to arm 420 and a turnaround feature 426 coupled to mount feature 425 .
- Mounting portion 410 of flexible cable 400 is mounted to mount feature 425 of stiffener 424 and turnaround portion 408 of flexible cable 400 is mounted to turnaround feature 426 of stiffener 424 .
- the mounting portion 410 of flexible cable 400 includes a sensor receiving portion 432 .
- sensor receiving portion is a first aperture 432 .
- Mount feature 425 of stiffener 424 includes a second aperture 434 .
- first aperture 432 and second aperture 434 are aligned.
- first aperture 432 and second aperture 434 are aligned together with a recess 428 on arm 420 .
- a mount surface 427 of arm 420 receives stiffener 424 and includes the at least one recess 428 .
- Recess 428 is configured to receive a sensor 430 . Therefore, when assembled, sensor 430 is mounted to recess 428 with, for example, an adhesive, and inserted through first aperture 432 of flexible cable 400 and second aperture 434 of stiffener 424 . Traces in flexible cable 400 are located about the circumference of first aperture 432 , such that when the first aperture 432 receives sensor 430 , the traces are electrically connected with the sensor by, for example, solder paste. However, other types of materials could be used, such as a conductive epoxy.
- sensor 430 When implemented in a data storage system, sensor 430 is configured to sense a zero fly height point for transducing elements in a slider that reads and writes information to a data storage medium.
- Sensor 430 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type of transducer.
- sensor 430 when assembled, is positioned very close to signal processing component 412 , which is configured to process the resulting sensing signal.
- signal processing component 412 is relatively short between sensor 430 and signal processing component 412 because the components are situated close together. The short distance of traces between sensor 430 and signal processing component 412 provides a suitable signal-to-noise ratio for signal processing.
- a coil tail 414 separately extends from mounting portion 410 in proximity to where turnaround portion 408 couples to a service loop portion (not shown). In one embodiment, coil tail 414 can route directly from the mounting feature to connect to a voice coil motor.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of an arm 520 , a flexible circuit assembly 522 including flexible cable 500 and a portion of a voice coil motor 521 .
- FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of arm 520 , the flexible circuit assembly 522 and voice coil motor 521 .
- flexible circuit assembly 522 includes a stiffener 524 and flexible cable 500 .
- Stiffener 524 includes a mount feature 525 for mounting to arm 520 and a turnaround feature 526 coupled to mount feature 525 .
- Mounting portion 510 of flexible cable 500 is mounted to mount feature 525 of stiffener 524 and turnaround portion 508 of flexible cable 500 is mounted to turnaround feature 526 of stiffener 524 .
- Flexible cable 500 includes a coil tail 514 and a sensor receiving portion 540 in the form of a sensor tail.
- the polymeric carrier for coil tail 514 separately extends from turnaround portion 508 in proximity to where service loop portion 506 couples with turnaround portion 508 .
- coil tail 514 can wrap within and above or below the interior of turnaround feature 526 to connect to voice coil motor 521 .
- the polymeric carrier 514 of sensor tail 540 separately extends from mounting portion 508 in proximity to where mounting portion 510 couples with turnaround portion 510 .
- sensor tail 540 extends from this point to electrically connect with a sensor 530 , either on the top or bottom of sensor 530 , with, for example, a solder paste.
- a solder paste for example, solder paste
- other types of materials could be used, such as a conductive epoxy.
- Sensor 530 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type of transducer. When implemented in a data storage system, sensor 530 is configured to sense a zero fly height point for transducing elements on a slider that read and write information to a data storage medium. As is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 , sensor 530 is mounted on a surface of arm 520 and positioned relatively close to signal processing component 512 , however, not as close as embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4-5 . Signal processing component 512 is configured to process the resulting sensed signal. In this way, traces in flexible cable 500 are short between sensor 530 and signal processing component 512 because the components are situated relatively close together. The short distance of traces between sensor 350 and signal processing component 512 provides a suitable signal-to-noise ratio for signal processing.
- FIG. 8 is a plan view of a flexible cable 600 of a flexible circuit assembly 622 under yet another embodiment.
- Flexible cable 600 includes a service loop portion 606 , a turnaround portion 608 , a mounting portion 610 , a signal processing component 612 coupled to mounting portion 610 and a coil tail 614 .
- the polymeric carrier 604 of mounting portion 610 includes a sensor receiving portion 616 for accommodating a portion of an arm that protrudes from its mount surface for mounting a sensor. In a data storage system, the sensor is used for measuring a zero fly height point of transducing element on a slider.
- sensor receiving portion 616 is a slot.
- Slot 616 includes three side edges of the polymeric carrier 604 of mounting portion 610 . At least two of the three side edges of polymeric carrier 304 have traces that are configured for electrically coupling to the sensor by, for example solder or some other electrically conducting material. To free up space in mounting portion 610 for accommodating a sensor, the polymeric carrier 604 that encompasses coil tail 614 separately extends from turnaround portion 608 in proximity to where turnaround portion 608 couples to service loop portion 606 .
- FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an arm 620 coupled to a voice coil motor 621 .
- Arm 620 is configured to receive a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable 600 illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- arm 620 includes a mount surface 627 that is configured to receive the flexible circuit assembly (illustrated for example in FIGS. 10 and 11 ).
- Arm 620 includes a protrusion 644 that protrudes from mount surface 627 .
- protrusion 644 has a rectangular shape. However, it should be realized that any type of geometrically shaped protrusion that protrudes from mount surface 627 is possible.
- FIG. 10 is a first perspective view of a portion of arm 620 illustrated in FIG. 9 and a flexible circuit assembly 622 including the flexible cable 600 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of the portion of arm 620 and flexible circuit assembly 622 .
- flexible circuit assembly 622 includes a stiffener 624 .
- Stiffener 624 includes a mount feature 625 and a turnaround feature 626 .
- the mount feature 625 being mounted to arm 620 .
- Mounting portion 610 of flexible cable 600 is mounted to mount feature 625 and turnaround portion 608 of flexible cable 600 is mounted to turnaround feature 626 . Therefore, mount feature 625 of stiffener 624 also includes a slot 629 that matches and is aligned with slot 616 in flexible cable 600 . Together slot 629 in stiffener 624 and slot 616 in flexible cable 600 accommodate protrusion 644 .
- the mount surface 627 of arm 620 that receives stiffener 624 includes protrusion 644 .
- FIG. 9 illustrates protrusion 644 as having a rectangular shape
- protrusion 644 has a cylindrical shape.
- a sensor 630 is in physical contact with or mounted to protrusion 644 with, for example, an adhesive.
- sensor 630 is configured to sense a zero fly height point for transducing elements in a slider that reads and writes information to a data storage medium.
- Sensor 630 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type of transducer.
- stiffener 624 and flexible cable 600 are mounted to mount surface 627 of arm 620 such that slot 616 and slot 629 accommodates protrusion 644 .
- Sensor 630 is positioned in physical contact with protrusion 644 by mounting sensor 630 to mounting portion 610 of flexible cable 600 on the edges of slot 616 as illustrated.
- Coil tail 614 is coupled to turnaround portion 608 in proximity to service loop portion 606 .
- coil tail 614 wraps around the exterior of turnaround feature 626 of stiffener 626 to connect to the voice coil motor (not illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 ).
- FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of arm 620 illustrated in FIG. 9 including a portion of the flexible circuit assembly 622 .
- sensor 630 is illustrated as being mounted to flexible cable 600 , which is mounted to stiffener 624 . Together flexible cable 600 and stiffener 624 are mounted to mount surface 627 of arm 620 . In this position, sensor 630 is in physical contact with arm 620 such that zero fly height measurements of a read/write head in a data storage system can be made.
- sensor 630 is electrically coupled to the flexible cable 600 for signal processing.
- FIG. 13 is a plan view of a flexible cable 700 of a flexible circuit assembly under yet another embodiment.
- Flexible cable 700 includes a service loop portion 706 , a turnaround portion 708 , a mounting portion 710 , a signal processing component 714 electrically coupled to mounting portion 710 and a coil tail 714 .
- the polymeric carrier 704 of mounting portion 710 includes a sensor receiving portion 716 for accommodating a portion of an arm that protrudes from its mount surface for mounting a sensor. In a data storage system, the sensor is used for measuring a zero fly height point of transducing element in a slider.
- sensor receiving portion 716 is a slot. Slot 716 includes three side edges of the polymeric carrier 704 of mounting portion 710 . At least two of the three side edges of polymeric carrier 704 have traces that are configured for electrically coupling to the sensor by, for example, solder.
- the polymeric carrier 704 that encompasses coil tail 714 is coupled to the polymeric carrier 704 of the turnaround portion 608 in proximity to where mounting portion 710 couples to turnaround portion 708 . It should be realized that this configuration is different than other embodiments. In this configuration, there is enough room in mounting portion 710 to accommodate both coil tail 714 as well as slot 716 .
- the flexible cable 700 illustrated in FIG. 13 is configured to include a pre-mounted sensor. Therefore, flexible cable 700 includes an adhesive pull back region 713 located on two of the three sides of the polymeric carrier 704 . Adhesive pull back region or adhesive-free region 713 under electrical contacts on flexible cable 700 allows a ridge or protrusion (as will be discussed in detail below) to push up the sensor to achieve a degree of preloading force and strain relief between the sensor and the arm when the sensor and flexible cable are mounted to the arm, without risk of distorting or tearing the polymeric carrier 704 .
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an arm 720 configured to receive the flexible cable 700 illustrated in FIG. 13 .
- FIG. 15 is a plan view of a portion of the arm 720 illustrated in FIG. 14 .
- Arm 720 is configured to receive a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable 700 illustrated in FIG. 13 .
- arm 720 includes a mount surface 727 that is configured to receive a flexible circuit assembly (illustrated for example in FIGS. 16 and 17 ).
- Arm 720 includes a protrusion 744 that protrudes from mount surface 727 .
- protrusion 744 has a rectangular shape. However, it should be realized that any type of geometrically shaped protrusion that protrudes from mount surface 727 is possible.
- FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of arm 720 illustrated in FIG. 14 and a flexible circuit assembly 722 including the flexible cable 700 of FIG. 13 .
- FIG. 17 is a plan view of a portion of arm 720 illustrated in FIG. 14 and the flexible circuit assembly 722 illustrated in FIG. 16 .
- flexible circuit assembly 722 includes a stiffener 724 .
- Stiffener 724 includes a mount feature 725 and a turnaround feature 726 .
- the mount feature 725 being mounted to arm 720 .
- Mounting portion 710 of flexible cable 700 is mounted to mount feature 725 and turnaround portion 708 of flexible cable 700 is mounted to turnaround feature 726 . Therefore, mount feature 725 of stiffener 724 also includes a slot 729 that matches and is aligned with slot 716 in flexible cable 700 . Together slot 729 in stiffener 724 and slot 716 in flexible cable 700 accommodate protrusion 744 .
- the mount surface 727 of arm 720 that receives stiffener 724 includes protrusion 744 .
- a sensor 730 pre-mounted to flexible circuit assembly 722 is pushed by and mounted to protrusion 744 by, for example, an adhesive.
- sensor 730 is configured to sense a zero fly height point of transducing element in a slider that reads and writes information to a data storage medium.
- Sensor 730 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type of transducer.
- stiffener 724 and the mounting portion 710 of flexible cable 700 are mounted to mount surface 727 of arm 720 such that slot 716 and slot 729 accommodates protrusion 744 .
- Sensor 730 is positioned on protrusion 744 by mounting sensor 730 to flexible cable 700 on the edges of slot 616 as illustrated.
- Coil tail 714 is coupled to mounting portion 710 in proximity to turnaround portion 708 .
- coil tail 714 separately extends from turnaround portion 708 and connects to the voice coil motor 721 ( FIG. 17 ).
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Abstract
Description
- A typical data electronics enclosure includes a rigid housing that encloses a variety of components. A data storage system is one type of electronics enclosure. Components in a data storage system include one or more storage media. For example, the storage media can be mounted on a spindle motor that causes the media to spin and the data surfaces of the discs to pass under aerodynamic bearing head sliders. The head sliders are supported on an actuator having at least one arm and at least one corresponding suspension that moves across the media using mechanical energy derived from a voice coil motor. The sliders carry transducers, which write information to and read information from the data surfaces of the media.
- A flexible circuit assembly electrically connects the read/write elements on the head slider and the electronics on the actuator to a printed circuit board (PCB) that interfaces with a host computer. The flexible circuit assembly includes a flexible cable that allows pivotal movement of the actuator during operation. The flexible cable includes electrical traces supported by a polymeric carrier material.
- As areal densities of the storage media increase, the fly height of the head above the media decreases. It is desirable to measure the zero fly height point for each head and associated media combination to optimize head fly height.
- The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
- An actuator for supporting data transfer elements includes an arm, a sensor in contact with a surface of the arm and a flexible circuit assembly. The flexible circuit assembly includes a stiffener having a mount feature for mounting to the arm and a turnaround feature coupled to the mount feature. The flexible circuit assembly also includes a flexible cable having a plurality of conductive traces for electrically connecting the data transfer elements to circuitry. The flexible cable includes a service loop portion, a mounting portion for mounting to the mount feature of the stiffener and a turnaround portion for mounting to the turnaround feature of the stiffener.
- The mounting portion of the flexible cable includes a sensor receiving portion for electrically coupling to the sensor while the sensor is in contact with the surface of the arm. Mounted to the mounting portion of the flexible cable includes a signal processing component for amplifying a signal from the data transfer elements. Besides amplifying a signal from the data transfer elements, the signal processing component also processes a sensed signal from the sensor. The flexible cable electrically couples the sensor to the signal processing component, while the sensor is in contact with the surface of the arm
- These and various other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
-
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a related art flexible cable. -
FIG. 2 is a plan view of another related art flexible cable. -
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flexible cable of a flexible circuit assembly under one embodiment. -
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of an arm and a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an arm and flexible circuit assembly under another embodiment. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of an arm and flexible circuit assembly under yet another embodiment. -
FIG. 7 is top plan view of a portion of the arm and the flexible circuit assembly in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a flexible cable of a flexible circuit assembly under yet another embodiment. -
FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an arm configured to receive the flexible cable illustrated inFIG. 8 . -
FIG. 10 is a first perspective view of a portion of the arm illustrated inFIG. 9 and a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8 . -
FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of a portion of the arm illustrated inFIG. 9 and a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8 . -
FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the arm illustrated inFIG. 9 including a portion of the flexible circuit assembly. -
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a flexible cable of a flexible circuit assembly under yet another embodiment. -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an arm configured to receive the flexible cable illustrated inFIG. 13 . -
FIG. 15 is a plan view of a portion of the arm illustrated inFIG. 14 . -
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the arm illustrated inFIG. 14 and a flexible circuit assembly including the flexible cable of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 13 . -
FIG. 17 is a plan view of a portion of the arm illustrated inFIG. 14 and the flexible circuit assembly illustrated inFIG. 16 . - Embodiments pertain to flexible circuit assemblies coupled to actuators in electronic devices, such as data storage systems, and the routing of flexible cable of the flexible circuit assemblies to accommodate a sensor coupled to an arm of the actuator. An actuator is configured to support data transfer elements including transducers. In one embodiment, the sensor is configured to measure a zero fly height point for a slider that includes transducers for reading and writing information to a data storage medium. In order for the sensor to achieve the required signal-to-noise ratio, the sensor is mounted to an e-block of an actuator assembly of the electronic device and is located as close as possible to the signal processing component of which can process the resultant signals. Embodiments of the flexible circuit assemblies take into consideration the signal processing component is already coupled to a flexible cable for use in other applications.
-
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a related artflexible cable 100.Flexible cable 100 allows pivotal movement of an actuator during operation of an electronic device while electrically connecting elements connected to the actuator to a printed circuit board (PCB) that interfaces with a host or host computer. For example, in a data storage system, the actuator accesses locations on a storage medium with transducing elements located on slider(s) to read and write information.Flexible cable 100 includeselectrical traces 102 supported by apolymeric carrier material 104. The electrical traces are coupled to the read/write transducing elements on the slider through electronics on the actuator assembly to connect with the PCB that interfaces with the host. -
Flexible cable 100 includes aservice loop portion 106. Service loop portion is the portion offlexible cable 100 that moves with the actuator and makes the connection between the actuator and the PCB.Flexible cable 100 includes aturnaround portion 108. Turnaroundportion 108 orients the position offlexible cable 100.Flexible cable 100 also includes amounting portion 110 for mounting to an arm of an actuator. Mounted to mountingportion 110 is asignal processing component 112. For example, in a data storage system,signal processing component 112 can be a preamplifier. Thepreamplifier 112 includes amplification and filtering circuits. More specifically,preamplifier 112 amplifies the signal from the transducing elements that are accessing read/write information on storage media. -
Flexible cable 100 also includes a coil tail 114 that separately extends fromturnaround portion 108 and includes electrical traces. In a data storage system, coil tail 114 electrically couples to a voice coil motor. The voice coil motor uses electrical energy to produce the mechanical energy needed to actuate arms on an actuator to access locations on the storage media. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , thepolymeric carrier 104 that encompasses coil tail 114 is coupled to thepolymeric carrier 104 of theturnaround portion 108 in proximity to whereturnaround portion 108 couples to mountingportion 110. -
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a related artflexible cable 200. Likeflexible cable 100,flexible cable 200 includes a service loop portion 206, aturnaround portion 208, a mountingportion 210,signal processing component 212 andcoil tail 214. Again, thepolymeric carrier 204 that encompassescoil tail 214 separately extends fromturnaround portion 208 in proximity to whereturnaround portion 208 couples to mountingportion 210. -
FIG. 3 is a plan view of aflexible cable 300 of a flexible circuit assembly under one embodiment.Flexible cable 300 includes aservice loop portion 306, aturnaround portion 308, a mountingportion 310,signal processing component 312 coupled to mountingportion 310 andcoil tail 314. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3 , thepolymeric carrier 304 of mountingportion 310 includes asensor receiving portion 316 for accommodating a sensor that is to be mounted to an arm of an actuator for measuring a zero fly height point of transducing elements on a slider. In theFIG. 3 embodiment,sensor receiving portion 316 is a slot.Slot 316 includes three side edges of thepolymeric carrier 304 of mountingportion 310. At least two of the three side edges ofpolymeric carrier 304 have traces that are configured for electrical connection with the sensor. - To free up space in mounting
portion 310 for accommodating a sensor, thepolymeric carrier 304 that encompassescoil tail 314 separately extends fromturnaround portion 308 in proximity to whereturnaround portion 308 couples toservice loop portion 306. -
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of anarm 320, aflexible circuit assembly 322 includingflexible cable 300 of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3 and a portion of avoice coil motor 321. As illustrated,flexible circuit assembly 322 includes astiffener 324 andflexible cable 300.Stiffener 324 includes amount feature 325 for mounting to arm 320 and aturnaround feature 326 coupled to mountfeature 325. Mountingportion 310 offlexible cable 300 is mounted to mountfeature 325 ofstiffener 324 andturnaround portion 308 offlexible cable 300 is mounted to turnaround feature 326 ofstiffener 324. Therefore, mount feature 325 ofstiffener 324 also includes aslot 329 that matches and is aligned withslot 316 inflexible cable 300. Together slot 329 instiffener 324 andslot 316 inflexible cable 300 receivingly engage a sensor. -
Arm 320 is part of an actuator. Amount surface 327 ofarm 320 that receivesstiffener 324 includes at least onerecess 328.Recess 328 is configured to receive asensor 330. For example,sensor 330 can be mounted to recess 328 ofarm 320 with an adhesive. When implemented in a data storage system,sensor 330 is configured to sense a zero fly height point for transducing elements on a slider that reads and writes information to a data storage medium.Sensor 330 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type transducer.Sensor 330 is simultaneously in physical contact witharm 320 and in electrical connection with traces inflexible cable 300 that is supported bystiffener 324. For example,sensor 330 can be soldered to traces inflexible cable 300. - As is illustrated in
FIG. 4 ,sensor 330 is positioned in electrical connection withflexible cable 300 in a position very close to signalprocessing component 312, which is configured to process the resulting sensed signal. In this way, traces inflexible cable 300 are relatively short betweensensor 330 andsignal processing component 312 because the components are situated close together. The short distance of traces betweensensor 330 andsignal processing component 312 provides a suitable signal-to-noise ratio for signal processing. - With
coil tail 314 being coupled toturnaround portion 308 in proximity toservice loop portion 306,coil tail 314, in one embodiment, can wrap around the exterior ofturnaround feature 326 to connect tovoice coil motor 321 as is illustrated inFIG. 4 . In a different embodiment,coil tail 314 can wrap within an interior ofturnaround feature 326 to connect tovoice coil motor 321 as is illustrated in dashed lines inFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of anarm 420 andflexible circuit assembly 422 under another embodiment. As illustrated,flexible circuit assembly 422 includes astiffener 424 andflexible cable 400.Stiffener 424 includes amount feature 425 for mounting to arm 420 and aturnaround feature 426 coupled to mountfeature 425. Mountingportion 410 offlexible cable 400 is mounted to mountfeature 425 ofstiffener 424 andturnaround portion 408 offlexible cable 400 is mounted to turnaround feature 426 ofstiffener 424. - In the
FIG. 5 embodiment, the mountingportion 410 offlexible cable 400 includes asensor receiving portion 432. In theFIG. 5 embodiment, sensor receiving portion is afirst aperture 432. Mount feature 425 ofstiffener 424 includes asecond aperture 434. When the mountingportion 410 offlexible cable 400 is mounted to mountfeature 425 ofstiffener 424,first aperture 432 andsecond aperture 434 are aligned. When both thestiffener 424 andflexible cable 400 are mounted together and received byarm 420,first aperture 432 andsecond aperture 434 are aligned together with arecess 428 onarm 420. - A
mount surface 427 ofarm 420 receivesstiffener 424 and includes the at least onerecess 428.Recess 428 is configured to receive asensor 430. Therefore, when assembled,sensor 430 is mounted to recess 428 with, for example, an adhesive, and inserted throughfirst aperture 432 offlexible cable 400 andsecond aperture 434 ofstiffener 424. Traces inflexible cable 400 are located about the circumference offirst aperture 432, such that when thefirst aperture 432 receivessensor 430, the traces are electrically connected with the sensor by, for example, solder paste. However, other types of materials could be used, such as a conductive epoxy. When implemented in a data storage system,sensor 430 is configured to sense a zero fly height point for transducing elements in a slider that reads and writes information to a data storage medium.Sensor 430 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type of transducer. As is illustrated inFIG. 5 ,sensor 430, when assembled, is positioned very close to signalprocessing component 412, which is configured to process the resulting sensing signal. In this way, traces inflexible cable 400 are relatively short betweensensor 430 andsignal processing component 412 because the components are situated close together. The short distance of traces betweensensor 430 andsignal processing component 412 provides a suitable signal-to-noise ratio for signal processing. - A
coil tail 414 separately extends from mountingportion 410 in proximity to whereturnaround portion 408 couples to a service loop portion (not shown). In one embodiment,coil tail 414 can route directly from the mounting feature to connect to a voice coil motor. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of anarm 520, aflexible circuit assembly 522 includingflexible cable 500 and a portion of avoice coil motor 521.FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a portion ofarm 520, theflexible circuit assembly 522 andvoice coil motor 521. As illustrated,flexible circuit assembly 522 includes astiffener 524 andflexible cable 500.Stiffener 524 includes amount feature 525 for mounting to arm 520 and aturnaround feature 526 coupled to mountfeature 525. Mountingportion 510 offlexible cable 500 is mounted to mountfeature 525 ofstiffener 524 andturnaround portion 508 offlexible cable 500 is mounted to turnaround feature 526 ofstiffener 524. -
Flexible cable 500 includes acoil tail 514 and asensor receiving portion 540 in the form of a sensor tail. As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7 , the polymeric carrier forcoil tail 514 separately extends fromturnaround portion 508 in proximity to whereservice loop portion 506 couples withturnaround portion 508. In one embodiment,coil tail 514 can wrap within and above or below the interior ofturnaround feature 526 to connect tovoice coil motor 521. As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7 , thepolymeric carrier 514 ofsensor tail 540 separately extends from mountingportion 508 in proximity to where mountingportion 510 couples withturnaround portion 510. In one embodiment,sensor tail 540 extends from this point to electrically connect with asensor 530, either on the top or bottom ofsensor 530, with, for example, a solder paste. However, other types of materials could be used, such as a conductive epoxy. -
Sensor 530 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type of transducer. When implemented in a data storage system,sensor 530 is configured to sense a zero fly height point for transducing elements on a slider that read and write information to a data storage medium. As is illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7 ,sensor 530 is mounted on a surface ofarm 520 and positioned relatively close to signalprocessing component 512, however, not as close as embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 4-5 .Signal processing component 512 is configured to process the resulting sensed signal. In this way, traces inflexible cable 500 are short betweensensor 530 andsignal processing component 512 because the components are situated relatively close together. The short distance of traces between sensor 350 andsignal processing component 512 provides a suitable signal-to-noise ratio for signal processing. -
FIG. 8 is a plan view of aflexible cable 600 of aflexible circuit assembly 622 under yet another embodiment.Flexible cable 600 includes aservice loop portion 606, aturnaround portion 608, a mountingportion 610, asignal processing component 612 coupled to mountingportion 610 and acoil tail 614. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8 , thepolymeric carrier 604 of mountingportion 610 includes asensor receiving portion 616 for accommodating a portion of an arm that protrudes from its mount surface for mounting a sensor. In a data storage system, the sensor is used for measuring a zero fly height point of transducing element on a slider. In theFIG. 8 embodiment,sensor receiving portion 616 is a slot.Slot 616 includes three side edges of thepolymeric carrier 604 of mountingportion 610. At least two of the three side edges ofpolymeric carrier 304 have traces that are configured for electrically coupling to the sensor by, for example solder or some other electrically conducting material. To free up space in mountingportion 610 for accommodating a sensor, thepolymeric carrier 604 that encompassescoil tail 614 separately extends fromturnaround portion 608 in proximity to whereturnaround portion 608 couples toservice loop portion 606. -
FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of anarm 620 coupled to avoice coil motor 621.Arm 620 is configured to receive a flexible circuit assembly including theflexible cable 600 illustrated inFIG. 8 . As illustrated inFIG. 9 ,arm 620 includes amount surface 627 that is configured to receive the flexible circuit assembly (illustrated for example inFIGS. 10 and 11 ).Arm 620 includes aprotrusion 644 that protrudes frommount surface 627. As illustrated inFIG. 9 ,protrusion 644 has a rectangular shape. However, it should be realized that any type of geometrically shaped protrusion that protrudes frommount surface 627 is possible. -
FIG. 10 is a first perspective view of a portion ofarm 620 illustrated inFIG. 9 and aflexible circuit assembly 622 including theflexible cable 600 of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8 .FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of the portion ofarm 620 andflexible circuit assembly 622. As illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11 ,flexible circuit assembly 622 includes astiffener 624.Stiffener 624 includes amount feature 625 and aturnaround feature 626. Themount feature 625 being mounted toarm 620. Mountingportion 610 offlexible cable 600 is mounted to mountfeature 625 andturnaround portion 608 offlexible cable 600 is mounted toturnaround feature 626. Therefore, mount feature 625 ofstiffener 624 also includes aslot 629 that matches and is aligned withslot 616 inflexible cable 600. Together slot 629 instiffener 624 andslot 616 inflexible cable 600 accommodateprotrusion 644. - As previously discussed in regards to
FIG. 9 , themount surface 627 ofarm 620 that receivesstiffener 624 includesprotrusion 644. AlthoughFIG. 9 illustratesprotrusion 644 as having a rectangular shape, inFIGS. 10 and 11 ,protrusion 644 has a cylindrical shape. Asensor 630 is in physical contact with or mounted toprotrusion 644 with, for example, an adhesive. When implemented in a data storage system,sensor 630 is configured to sense a zero fly height point for transducing elements in a slider that reads and writes information to a data storage medium.Sensor 630 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type of transducer. - As is illustrated in
FIGS. 10 and 11 , together stiffener 624 andflexible cable 600 are mounted to mountsurface 627 ofarm 620 such thatslot 616 andslot 629 accommodatesprotrusion 644.Sensor 630 is positioned in physical contact withprotrusion 644 by mountingsensor 630 to mountingportion 610 offlexible cable 600 on the edges ofslot 616 as illustrated. -
Coil tail 614 is coupled toturnaround portion 608 in proximity toservice loop portion 606. In the embodiment illustrated,coil tail 614 wraps around the exterior ofturnaround feature 626 ofstiffener 626 to connect to the voice coil motor (not illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11 ). -
FIG. 12 is a top perspective view ofarm 620 illustrated inFIG. 9 including a portion of theflexible circuit assembly 622. InFIG. 12 ,sensor 630 is illustrated as being mounted toflexible cable 600, which is mounted tostiffener 624. Togetherflexible cable 600 andstiffener 624 are mounted to mountsurface 627 ofarm 620. In this position,sensor 630 is in physical contact witharm 620 such that zero fly height measurements of a read/write head in a data storage system can be made. In addition,sensor 630 is electrically coupled to theflexible cable 600 for signal processing. -
FIG. 13 is a plan view of aflexible cable 700 of a flexible circuit assembly under yet another embodiment.Flexible cable 700 includes aservice loop portion 706, aturnaround portion 708, a mountingportion 710, asignal processing component 714 electrically coupled to mountingportion 710 and acoil tail 714. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 13 , thepolymeric carrier 704 of mountingportion 710 includes asensor receiving portion 716 for accommodating a portion of an arm that protrudes from its mount surface for mounting a sensor. In a data storage system, the sensor is used for measuring a zero fly height point of transducing element in a slider. In theFIG. 13 embodiment,sensor receiving portion 716 is a slot.Slot 716 includes three side edges of thepolymeric carrier 704 of mountingportion 710. At least two of the three side edges ofpolymeric carrier 704 have traces that are configured for electrically coupling to the sensor by, for example, solder. - The
polymeric carrier 704 that encompassescoil tail 714 is coupled to thepolymeric carrier 704 of theturnaround portion 608 in proximity to where mountingportion 710 couples to turnaroundportion 708. It should be realized that this configuration is different than other embodiments. In this configuration, there is enough room in mountingportion 710 to accommodate bothcoil tail 714 as well asslot 716. - The
flexible cable 700 illustrated inFIG. 13 is configured to include a pre-mounted sensor. Therefore,flexible cable 700 includes an adhesive pull backregion 713 located on two of the three sides of thepolymeric carrier 704. Adhesive pull back region or adhesive-free region 713 under electrical contacts onflexible cable 700 allows a ridge or protrusion (as will be discussed in detail below) to push up the sensor to achieve a degree of preloading force and strain relief between the sensor and the arm when the sensor and flexible cable are mounted to the arm, without risk of distorting or tearing thepolymeric carrier 704. -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of anarm 720 configured to receive theflexible cable 700 illustrated inFIG. 13 .FIG. 15 is a plan view of a portion of thearm 720 illustrated inFIG. 14 .Arm 720 is configured to receive a flexible circuit assembly including theflexible cable 700 illustrated inFIG. 13 . As illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 15 ,arm 720 includes amount surface 727 that is configured to receive a flexible circuit assembly (illustrated for example inFIGS. 16 and 17 ).Arm 720 includes aprotrusion 744 that protrudes frommount surface 727. As illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 15 ,protrusion 744 has a rectangular shape. However, it should be realized that any type of geometrically shaped protrusion that protrudes frommount surface 727 is possible. -
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a portion ofarm 720 illustrated inFIG. 14 and aflexible circuit assembly 722 including theflexible cable 700 ofFIG. 13 .FIG. 17 is a plan view of a portion ofarm 720 illustrated inFIG. 14 and theflexible circuit assembly 722 illustrated inFIG. 16 . - As illustrated in
FIGS. 16 and 17 ,flexible circuit assembly 722 includes astiffener 724.Stiffener 724 includes amount feature 725 and aturnaround feature 726. Themount feature 725 being mounted toarm 720. Mountingportion 710 offlexible cable 700 is mounted to mountfeature 725 andturnaround portion 708 offlexible cable 700 is mounted toturnaround feature 726. Therefore, mount feature 725 ofstiffener 724 also includes aslot 729 that matches and is aligned withslot 716 inflexible cable 700. Together slot 729 instiffener 724 andslot 716 inflexible cable 700 accommodateprotrusion 744. - As previously discussed in regards to
FIG. 14 , themount surface 727 ofarm 720 that receivesstiffener 724 includesprotrusion 744. As illustrated, asensor 730 pre-mounted toflexible circuit assembly 722 is pushed by and mounted toprotrusion 744 by, for example, an adhesive. When implemented in a data storage system,sensor 730 is configured to sense a zero fly height point of transducing element in a slider that reads and writes information to a data storage medium.Sensor 730 can be a high frequency shock sensor, acoustic emission sensor or other type of transducer. - As is illustrated in
FIGS. 16 and 17 , together stiffener 724 and the mountingportion 710 offlexible cable 700 are mounted to mountsurface 727 ofarm 720 such thatslot 716 andslot 729 accommodatesprotrusion 744.Sensor 730 is positioned onprotrusion 744 by mountingsensor 730 toflexible cable 700 on the edges ofslot 616 as illustrated. -
Coil tail 714 is coupled to mountingportion 710 in proximity to turnaroundportion 708. In the embodiment illustrated,coil tail 714 separately extends fromturnaround portion 708 and connects to the voice coil motor 721 (FIG. 17 ). - It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on components in an electronic enclosure should be secured while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In addition, although the preferred embodiments described herein are directed to securing storage media components, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention can be applied to other components of other types of electronic devices, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims (23)
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US12/273,838 US8111485B2 (en) | 2008-11-19 | 2008-11-19 | Arm mounted shock sensor and flexible circuit routing |
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US12/273,838 US8111485B2 (en) | 2008-11-19 | 2008-11-19 | Arm mounted shock sensor and flexible circuit routing |
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US20100123976A1 true US20100123976A1 (en) | 2010-05-20 |
US8111485B2 US8111485B2 (en) | 2012-02-07 |
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